Parish Funds

Under the direction of our Trustees, First Parish employs a part-time social worker to coordinate and administer three funds to benefit the citizens of the Town of Milton and a fourth fund to benefit members of First Parish in times of need. These funds are possible because of the generous gifts left by First Parish members and friends.

The Milton Residents Fund
Each year, available income from the fund is distributed to Milton residents, as needed, primarily for utility payments or other household expenses. Referrals to the fund come from local agencies serving Milton residents.

The Parish Members Fund
Each year, available income from the fund is distributed to First Parish members in need, usually on a quarterly basis. Referrals to the fund are usually self-referrals and are strictly confidential.

Seeking Assistance
Diane Ferrari, Funds Coordinator, is a licensed social worker and will be happy to discuss any application for assistance. Applicants meet with Diane for an interview and a financial review. It should be noted that eligibility is not determined strictly by income; each referral is considered by an individual’s or family’s situation. The Trustees are responsible for making final decisions on eligibility and levels of assistance.

History of the Funds
The Milton Residents Fund and The Parish Members Fund These two funds are comprised of gifts left by members and friends of First Parish. Contributions and bequests are encouraged, as no portion of the annual budget drive goes to these funds unless specifically designated.

Before 1930, about twelve funds had been established to help Milton residents or parish members. In 1950, a large gift was left and the Trustees eventually combined all the funds to make these two larger funds.

The Henry B. Martin Fund, Inc.
Henry B. Martin, a lifelong Milton resident, bank executive and town clerk, died on April 27, 1927 at the age of 92. Henry’s wife, Eleanor A. Martin, died on June 14, 1930.

Henry and Eleanor left two children, Waldo Martin and Eleanor P. Martin. It seems that Eleanor attended First Parish, and appointed others from First Parish to be on the board of the charitable corporation she formed in her father’s memory in 1937, The Henry B. Martin Home for Aged Persons. To fund the corporation, she donated two homes on Maple Street and money bequeathed to her by her father. The Home operated for approximately fourteen years.

In 1951, the name of the Charity was changed to The Henry B. Martin Fund, Inc. and eventually the Home was closed. In 1954, both parcels were sold to the Massachusetts Audubon Society. It appears that Eleanor initiated both the closing of the Home and the changing of the purposes of the fund. Because the government began giving increased funds to elderly people, it was thought that younger citizens and children could benefit from the fund. This tradition of giving grants to Milton residents without regard to age
continues to this day.

A service was held at First Parish at the time of Eleanor’s death, at age 86, in 1956. Her estate was evenly divided between the Henry B. Martin Fund and Milton Hospital.

The Swift Charity
The Swift Charity was the result of bequests made in the wills of sisters Elizabeth R and Mary F Swift of Milton. Their funerals, in 1896 and 1894 respectively, were held at First Parish. A special act passed by the legislature in 1898 formally established the Swift Charity as a nonprofit corporation. The charity was directed to either purchase a home or create a trust to assist needy and deserving women and children of Milton.

The directors of this charity never established the “Swift Home.” They instead have made grants to Milton residents and organizations benefiting Milton residents.

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Every Sunday

Sunday Worship
10:30 am in the meetinghouse.

Silent Prayer & Meditation
9:00am in the Children's Church.

Religious Education
- Most Sundays, Religious Education programming is offered for children and youth ages 3-18.
- Nursery care is always available for young children and infants.
- Please do not leave your children unsupervised.

Meetinghouse Choir Rehearsal
8:45am in the Parish Hall

First Parish in Milton is a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Milton, Massachusetts. We are a vibrant, caring, faith community.

We are a welcoming congregation that encourages all to grow deep faith and take bold action.